Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 3

Governor VP Singh Badnore today kick-started the third edition of the Military Literature Festival (MLF) by inaugurating the second Shotgun Shooting Championship.

The event is a joint initiative of the Punjab Government and the Chandigarh administration in collaboration with the Army.

Badnore said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would inaugurate the main Military Literature Festival slated to be held in Chandigarh from December 13-15. He also said the event had become so popular in the past two years that it had attained the second position after the Jaipur Literature Festival.

The competitions today saw participation of young shooters from across the state, capturing the essence of military’s formidable sporting culture and ethos.

This year also prominent national and international personalities would be attending the festival, added Badnore. Lauding Captain Amarinder Singh’s visionary approach to promote sports culture in the state, he exhorted athletes to inculcate qualities of both the head and heart to succeed as true sportspersons. “These events are a perfect way to connect today’s youth with the rich history of our forces,” he said, assuring the participants of all possible assistance from the state government.

Along with other shooters, Badnore also participated in an exhibition match of trapshooting. A total of 60 shooters, including international sportspersons, are vying for honours in the skeet and trap categories at New Moti Bagh Gun Club.

Lt Gen TS Shergill, Maj Gen Sanjiv Verma, Capt Amarjeet Singh Jeji, SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, Bhupinder Sidhu along with students of Punjab Public School, Nabha, and Yadavindra Public School, Patiala, witnessed the event.